The Giver written by Lois Lowry, performed by Ron Rifkin
“It’s just that… without the memories it’s all meaningless.”
Lois lowry, the giver
Readuction:
Rifkin transmits the memory of Lowry’s placid dystopian Community that’s graced classrooms back and back and back since 1993. Jonas, cursed with the Giver’s knowledge of the time before Sameness, questions if safety and stability are worth sacrificing Christmas and grandparents for. When lies are Released, he sees beyond the Community’s boundaries and chooses to go Elsewhere rather than allow a newchild’s audacity to be extinguished. Bravely stealing away the doomed toddler, Jonas forsakes the scripted tedium of certainty and gambles their lives for any chance at vibrancy, warmth, and love. Ironically, hypothermia seems to claim him. But he tried.
Boiling Points:
Author
Lois Lowry
Genres
Dystopian, Sci-fi, Young Adult
Published
1993
Recommended Format
Audiobook – performed by Ron Rifkin
Themes
freedom of choice, individuality, challenging the norm, perspective
feels:
I hadn’t read this book since I was in primary school myself. I vaguely recalled Jonas’ reluctance to take on the isolating role of Receiver, his receiving of memories, and a general unease around the novel, the larger concepts and finer details were as lost to time as youth is. If I could question Little Jess on her perception of the novel, would she see past the veneer of a dystopian future to the present systems underneath? Did she understand the dual warnings against unquestioning ignorance and blind adherence to the rules? Likely not. Though Jonas in his youth did not identify specific flaws in the community’s system – he, like I imagine Little Jess would have, saw only the inherent wrongness in this grim practicality and control over something as organic, vibrant, and contentious as life.
In re-experiencing this new world classic, I’m reminded (somewhat oddly) of Disney’s Pocahontas and the ever-flowing river. She says “to be safe we lose the chance of ever knowing”. And so it is here – these communities have willingly given up knowing, have given that job to someone else to deal with so they don’t have to. If they had known what Jonas knew, would they have continued to exist that way? Some, many even, would likely choose to remain going through the predictable motions rather than risk pain and uncertainty. The Giver told Jonas memories are forever and leaving the community would mean the memories’ return to the people – how many people remain content with their lot then? I suppose I will have to find the additional books in series to find out.
In the meantime, I will try to remember to question the rules, to relish both joys and torments, and to choose to live in color.
exceptional excerpts:
“They were satisfied with their lives which had none of the vibrance his own was taking on. And he was angry at himself, that he could not change that for them.”
– Lois Lowry, The Giver
“Even trained for years as they all had been in precision of language, what words could you use which would give another the experience of sunshine?”
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